Workplace Blog

5 of the World's Wackiest Architectural Designs

Posted on December 10, 2013

Two things are infinite—the universe and human imagination; and I'm not sure about the universe. Speaking of architecture, modern technology has made it possible to turn the weirdest of imaginations into reality. What's wacky to some because of its outlandishness might be appealing to others because of its originality. The following architectural designs are the world's wackiest, in the sense that they are unlike any structure you might have seen in your life. Manmade Mountain, Netherland Over 2,000 meters in height, this jaw-dropping architectural wonder will add the much needed vertical dimension to the super-flat Dutch landscape. It will be a huge tourist attraction, featuring skiing, hiking, rock-climbing, and cycling in an artificially created natural environment. The manmade mountain will have ski slopes, ice rinks, hotels, waterfalls, and scenic roads with hairpin turns. Apart from entertaining the tourists, the mountain will also provide opportunities f...

Four Reasons Why You Should Invest in Workplace Health and Safety Training

Posted on November 27, 2013

Even today, in a time when health and safety red tape supposedly streams across workplaces up and down the UK, there are a shocking 200 deaths as a result of accidents in the workplace, and over a million injuries every single year. The health and safety naysayers might be right to criticise needless bureaucracy and over the top health and safety regulations, but in the 21st century, when there are still deaths occurring in the workplace, it is plain for all to see that something has to be done. Of course, there are some professions where an element of danger is inherent and unavoidable. Forestry is statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK, with workers six times more likely than construction workers to be killed at work. This simply highlights the...

Disastrous Examples of Bad Garage Storage

Posted on November 22, 2013

We use the garage to store anything for which we can't find a place for in the house. Old furniture, old appliances, shoes, clothes, toys, car and garden tools, old books, old carpets, bicycles, tyres, car-care chemicals, and many other items gradually find their way into the garage, turning it into a cramped, cluttered place. The space inside your garage is not unlimited, and you realize this the day you run out of room for parking your car. Or, if you can still park your car in your garage, you can't open the doors unless you rearrange the storage. How a Garage Storage becomes a Mess There can be unlimited examples of disastrously bad garage storage, thanks to the absolute randomness of the storage activity. There's no particular order or arrangement when you have been storing things in your garage for a few months or years. Ultimately, you reach a stage where your garage turns into a man-cave with stuff piled up everywhere. You dread the time when you need to reach...

Traffic Cones and Statues: A Tale of Unrequited Love

Posted on November 13, 2013

Browsing through the news today, we came across an article written by the BBC titled “Why do people put traffic cones on statues?” Well, firstly it is a valid question. What is the fascination with defacing statues with cones? Providing the addition of a traffic cone accessory to any statues in city centres or towns has become quite commonplace. It is normally the act of drunken pranksters, on the way home after a night on the tiles who fancy a laugh and a joke at the expense of these historic figures. A combination of party-culture and the abundance of road works in a number of towns and cities up and down the country is what makes putting a traffic cone on a statue appear easy and fun to do. It has been said that this phenomenon is actually a part of tradition and history. For years people have felt the need to vandalise statues of...

The Kick Step Workout!

Posted on November 07, 2013

If you have a busy working lifestyle it can often be difficult to find time to keep fit and healthy. After a day of working 9 to 5, you may not feel like slogging it out at the gym. The prices of gym memberships are also high and unaffordable for many people. Well, the team here at The Workplace Depot have come up with an easy and cheap way to work out in the workplace using a humble piece of office equipment. The Kick Step is a small stool used to stand on when trying to get to high up, out of reach items. These step stools are often used in offices, warehouses and are commonly seen on the shop floor of supermarket chains as they are used by staff to replenish stock. Well now, these little steps are having a makeover and could become the latest trend in fitness equipment! The multi-functional Kickalong steps can be used to do a variety of different exercises, and its compact nature allows you to do it whilst you are in the workplace. It is a very efficient and very convenient way...

Safety Measures to Take in the Snow

Posted on November 07, 2013

Now that the clocks have gone back, and the evenings have become darker it is clear to us all that the days of summer are long gone and that winter is fast approaching. The early morning commute to work is harder as you can see your breath in the air, and your wonder whether it’s time to put on your hat and gloves. This week saw snow fall in County Durham, an unusually early recording of this type of weather. So, as the cold weather begins to set in, so does the time to think about snow preparation and how you can minimise the impact it has on your day. Many people enjoy the white blanket of snow that covers the ground in winter time, as it brings with it snow days, where school is cancelled, and the building of snowmen. But the snowy weather should not be taken lightly. It is important to take precautions to make sure you stay safe during the wintery weather conditions. It seems that in our country we are not accustomed to heavy snow fall and, more often than not, the c...

Tips for Staying Safe on Bonfire Night

Posted on November 05, 2013

Remember, remember the 5th of November. On this night in 1605, Guy Fawkes was arrested after planting explosives underneath the English parliament in an attempt to blow up the Protestant King. This was, and still is, famously known as “the gunpowder plot”. After the capture of the people involved in the gunpowder plot, bonfires were lit to celebrate the survival of King James and a national day of observance was to take place on the 5th of November from then on. This was a day to be thankful of the plot’s failure. Since then the day has become a family night of wrapping up warm, watching fireworks and eating wholesome foods. It may be a fun, annual event for all the family, but with any situation where fire and mini-explosives are being used, there are strict health and safety guidelines to follow to ensure everybody has an enjoyable and safe evening. Here are four pieces of advice for keeping safe on Bonfire Night. 1. This first tip concerns lighting fireworks. First of al...

Too Early for Christmas?

Posted on November 01, 2013

Last week in the office, everybody was shocked, and actually a little bit horrified, to find our very first Christmas card of the year waiting for us on the door mat. Our first Christmas card arrived in October - late October, but it was October nonetheless! Christmas is a time for festivity and good will, but when you are reminded by a Christmas card that the big day is only 53 days away (yes really!), it suddenly becomes something you start to dread! The first card arriving signifies the countdown to Christmas and is a nudge to get those all-important preparations started. Is October too early for a Christmas card? If you are starting to think about Christmas, then you may be looking to host a Christmas party or event for your business and employees or even just for your family. Hosting events like this needs lots of organisation and preparation to make sure that everything you require is in order. You may need to book a venue, then there’s the food and drink, then you h...

The "Key" Solution to Your Problems...

Posted on October 30, 2013

How many times have you wandered around in an aimless attempt to search for a lost pair of car keys? You are sure you left them on the kitchen counter… Or were they in your bag? It’s something which is a commonplace situation in households up and down the UK; the mystery of missing keys. One must admit they are an easy item to misplace. One minute they are in your hand when you are locking your car or when you lock the front door of your house and then, before you know it, you have put them down somewhere or in something, but you can bet your bottom dollar that you won’t be able to remember where on earth they are. Have you ever been in the irritating situation where you have left the house in the morning and you have unknowingly picked up the wrong set of keys? Perhaps you’ve grabbed the keys for the garden shed instead of those for the front door – which proves to be a huge problem when you try to let yourself in later that day. Wouldn’t it be useful if there was a place...

Don't Slip up in the wet Weather

Posted on October 28, 2013

Over Sunday night and Monday morning the UK was subjected to one of the worst storms in decades. Wind speeds were recorded as reaching nearly 100 mph, causing falling trees and loss of power in some areas. The storm brought with it heavy downpours of rain throughout the country, which led to flooding in certain places. As a result of the treacherous weather, there have been a number of disruptions to travel and transport services up and down the country, making the commute to work during rush hour more difficult than normal. Nevertheless, workers made their way through the wind and rain to get to their jobs this morning. In weather conditions such as this, the risk of people slipping on wet floors and surfaces dramatically increases. When it rains and people are travelling to work from their homes, whether it’s on foot, in the car or on the bus, the surfaces they walk upon can get very slippery. ...

Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Posted on October 23, 2013

The world we live in today is one which is becoming more health and safety conscious and we have been described as a hi-viz society, as more and more people are donning hi-visibility clothing to stay safe at work, whilst out at night or with young children who are walking to school. The latest group of society to join the hi-viz trend is the feathered kind. Yes, that’s right. The chicken coop company Omlet have started selling a Health and Safety Gilet for chickens. This revelation in chicken technology comes from the increasing number of chickens in urban and suburban areas. More people are having chickens as domestic pets, which live in their back gardens near busy roads and streets. If chickens in these urban areas happen to escape out of gardens and under fences, t...

Cone but not Forgotten

Posted on October 17, 2013

This week saw the start of the annual Frieze Art Fair in London, where artists and art lovers from across the world come to witness and potentially purchase some of the artwork on show. The Frieze Art Fair takes places every October in Regent’s Park in London and is hosted by the two publishers of the Frieze contemporary art magazine. The fair is an exhibition of all sorts of contemporary art that attracts nearly 70,000 visitors each year. The main purpose of the event is to sell work to the people who come along, but it is becoming increasingly popular as an art exhibition with more and more people coming to simply spectate and view the works on display. One of the artists whose work was on show this year was Robert Pruitt. Pruitt is a visual artist from New York. His work at this year’s show was something which caught our MD’s attention. His art work was centred on traffic cones. Now, you might think “what’s interesting about traffic cones?” Well, Pruitt has personified...